"Who else would I do it for? Anyway, you can't make me go back to the palace now. The weather's going to be worse soon. You would need someone who knows the directions even under good or bad weather," Princess Carrie said, chin raised up as she slowly let Gavin go.
Gavin let out a sigh. He began to think he would never truly understand this woman, or any at that matter, especially with their sudden change of moods no matter the situation, no matter the place. "And who knows all the directions? You?"
Princess Carrie frowned. "Of course not. I haven't gone outside the Capital ever since the day I was born."
"I know," Gavin nodded.
Clearing her throat, Princess Carrie said, "It's Keagan and Tamara. They know the ins and outs of the mainland. Apparently."
It was time for Gavin to frown. "What? Keagan and Tamara... How could-"
"Your Highness."
Gavin turned around and saw two familiar figures - Keagan and Tamara.
Keagan was a son of another wealthy clan residing in the Capital, the patriarch of the family especially close to the Alpha King himself. Meanwhile, Tamara was a daughter of one of the professors in the academy they all studied in. One was known for holding lavish parties whatever season it may be while the other was known for being a loner, almost not wanting to interact with anyone else during class lessons and activities.
"What were you thinking, bringing our classmates here?" Gavin asked Princess Carrie with a deep frown and low voice.
Princess Carrie frowned back. "Based on our geography test results, they know the outside country more than those hunters you brought. In addition, Keagan and Tamara are both from reputable families. It couldn't be they only know foolishness to spread. Second Prince, I thought you are also an advocate for equality. Why does it sound to me that you are not giving equal chances for these people to show what they actually excel from?"
Gavin was rendered speechless. Princess Carrie was just too difficult to understand. In the end he could only take in a deep breath as he nodded. "Okay. Okay. Let's bring them with us."
In the end, both figures failed to remember they had more people with them, people called hunters that naturally knew everything outside the Capital, outside the mainland. That, or one of them just chose not to speak about it, knowing the other would surely make another fuss once again upon speaking.
The next day, a storm indeed came as the group was forced to seek shelter to the nearest town near the Southern borders. Inside a tavern filled with people of different statuses and occupations, seven people entered, catching the attention of the people as they did.
"People are looking at us," Keagan whispered, eyes twitching as he caught sight of a man wearing a pair of dirty, almost ragged clothes - a strange sight to a person who had only lived in the Capital full of people, including servants, wearing clean and fine clothes.
Gavin didn't mind as he walked to the counter and asked for seven rooms. The hunters immediately tried to tell Gavin they were fine sharing one room with one another. As opposed to the palace people, these hunters indeed had experienced living outside in the wilderness with only food, water, and fire to accompany them. But it was also the same reason why Gavin decided to give them a break.
"We would need you three to lead the way once we're outside the borders. Therefore, having plenty of rest until tomorrow is only necessary," Gavin said as he handed the money to the person managing the tavern.
"Your Highness, we'll be eternally grateful for this," the hunters exclaimed, heads down as they almost let out tears while thanking the second prince. Even having a good, comfortable bed required a year's worth of work and this couldn't even be said as these were the people always putting themselves on the front line when they were tasked to go outside and hunt.
It wasn't until they were having a meal on one of the tables in the tavern that they found out another problem they might encounter once again.